The Best Birthday Ever

I’m baaaaack! From what was, without a doubt, the best birthday trip of my entire life. Thank you all for your patience during my absence. I have some very happy/life changing/exciting news to share with you in this post.

From Sacramento, we went to Napa and stayed at the Farmhouse Inn. It is such a quaint, luxurious boutique hotel with so many special touches and really unique design details. My favorite aspects of our room were the heated bathroom floors, rustic wood rolling doors, and clean white + grey color scheme. When we checked in, and we were given a glass of local wine at the reception, where they also have a s’more bar and huge blocks of deliciously scented handmade soap that you are welcome to cut off yourself and take to your room. We had an afternoon couple’s massage in their gorgeous spa, and ate dinner at their Michelin star restaurant, which was incredible. I had a garlic chicken dish that I will boldy deem the best chicken I’ve ever had. The next morning was my actual birthday, so we slept in and had a cozy brunch before hopping in the car for the drive down the coast to Big Sur. If you’ve never done this drive, I highly recommend it – it’s stunning!

We arrived at Post Ranch Inn and our room wasn’t quite ready yet, so we had drinks and snacks by the fire. Once we checked in, boyfriend went to go workout on the bike and I hopped in the shower to get ready for my birthday dinner at Sierra Mar, Post Ranch’s restaurant. When he came back, he started a fire in our wood burning fireplace and a bottle of rosé arrived that he had ordered so we could watch the sunset together by the fire. What happened next made this birthday the most memorable, special, and best day of my life. Without getting into too much detail, boyfriend asked me to marry him. And I said yes…DUH! 🙂

The rest of the night (and trip) was a happy blur in our love bubble. We hiked our favorite path in the woods twice, we got massages in the treehouse spa, we went to our other favorite restaurant, Nepenthe, and soaked in our private jacuzzi. We snuggled, we laughed, we cried, and decided to enjoy the whole experience to ourselves before telling anyone. We were engaged on Sunday and not a single person knew until we were back on Wednesday. On our way back to SD, we stopped for one last dinner in Santa Barbara at our favorite spot, Bouchon. As we reflected on our trip and coming home to tell everyone the news, it was surreal to be looking at the man I am going to spend the rest of my life with and think how lucky I am to have so much love for another human being that gives me that same kind of deep, pure love in return. Those few days together in our little world were the most special moment of my life.

And there you have it – everything I ate and did on our trip! Now, we are getting ready to head to Cabo for my girlfriend’s wedding! October has definitely been a very busy and exciting month!!!

I will leave you with this photo that is super sentimental to me because it is from the first year we did this trip together. I look like a baby, and he looks exactly the same 🙂 I knew back then there was no going back and that he was “it” for me, and 4 years later….here we are. It’s funny how life works out so perfectly.

Annie, a HUGE congrats to you! I love that last photo & I know that feeling you mentioned WELL. When you know, you know. It all just makes perfect sense. And the fact that it happened at Post Ranch Inn – EASILY one of the best places in California 😉 congrats, congrats, congrats & may the celebrating never, ever, ever end. You will be an absolutely stunning bride! xx Shannon

Donna

Congratulations!!!!!!!

Alexandria

HUGE congratulations to you!!! Absolutely gorgeous photos and sounds like the best time. I love that the two of you chose to keep it private for a few days too…that’s soooo special. You will be such a stunning bride! Please bring us all along on your wedding planning! 🙂 As a newlywed, I can definitely say- welcome to the good life! Marriage is truly such a sacred and incredible thing. So happy for you!!

Jessica DeCicco

How exciting!! You are precious together. Congrats and happy belated birthday 🙂

Tiffany McGoff

So amazing! Congratulations! Wishing you happiness today and always! Can’t wait for all the wedding details to come…..xoxo

Rachel S.

Congratulations, Annie! So happy for you 🙂 After my husband proposed, he also surprised me with an overnight surprise trip to celebrate, and he wouldn’t let us tell anyone until after we got back. At first I found it so hard to contain the urge to tell my mom and my best girlfriends, but it ended up being so worth it to celebrate just the two of us without any distractions. It was also such a fun secret knowing that nobody even knew where we were, let alone that we were engaged! Enjoy every bit of your engagement, it’s such a special and unique time filled with so much love. And the best part is, marriage is even better than being engaged! xoxo

Jennifer

Cool story, but – where is your RING?? Inquiring minds want to evaluate! 🙂 Best wishes, and am loving your white boots! They have that Valley of the Dolls flavor and go really well with the light denim.

PC Principal

Your boyfriend looks over 60. The guy will be dead from a heart attack literally within a year of you marrying him. My dad is available if your looking for a huge sugar baby upgrade. The food looks awesome though.

Bernie Sanders

How tall are you? Your literally always in heels or platform shoes.

kristen

amazing!!! so happy for you!!! love!

Daria Huber

Congrats! Beautiful photos, amazing post. Any other Santa Barbara recommendations? Going for the first time around the holidays. Suggestions welcome!

Abby

Congratulations, Annie! Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together!

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